HUNDREDS of people gathered to witness the official opening of the Burry Stander Bike Park, near the family’s home in Umtentweni last Saturday. The park is to honour Burry Stander who was killed in an accident a year ago.
The official opening of the park was part of celebrating the man’s life. The memorial event started on Friday where more than 200 cyclists took part in a 10km ride which finished where he was killed. After the ride candles were lit at the ghost bike at the site. On Saturday the park was officially opened.
“The aim of the bike park is to increase participation in the sport and encourage youth from the surrounding communities to be involved,”said Duane Stander, Burry’s brother. He said anyone was welcome to use the park.
“We know that Burry would be proud of what we are doing,” said Mandie Stander, Burry’s mother. She said the family would carry on promoting cycling through this park. “We hope to nurture cyclists who will carry on Burry’s legacy,” she said.
“It gives me pleasure to join the Stander family today to remember one of our outstanding athletes who was passionate about sport and who raised the flag of the country high at prestigious international sport events,” said MEC for Social Development and Acting MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Weziwe Thusi.
“We would like to express our profound gratitude to the Stander family, the National Department of Sport and Recreation, Cycling South Africa and all other stakeholders who worked hard to ensure that this event becomes a success,” she said.
“The untimely death of Burry last year left a huge void in the sporting fraternity and we were deeply saddened by it. The initiative we are launching today affirms that while Burry may no longer be with us his legacy of hard work, commitment and excellence lives on.
“He had an illustrious career as an athlete and we were robbed of his exceptional talent. We are optimistic that the cycling development that has been established by the Burry Stander Foundation will play a critical role in producing world-class cyclists such as Burry. We also have no doubt that the bike park we are officially opening today will inspire many young athletes to take the baton and continue where Burry left off,” she said.
The Department of Sport donated 30 bikes and helmets for the park. KwaZulu-Natal head of sport, Rohini Naidoo, said that her department was committed to developing and supporting cycling in the Ugu district.
